Image: Ai-Ai delas Alas, Facebook/Ethel Booba, Instagram/@itspokwang27
Some celebrities were not spared by the water service interruptions in some parts of Metro Manila, and they took to social media to air out their grievances, echoing those of the rest of the public.
Actress-comedian Ai-Ai delas Alas took to Instagram last March 13 where she shared the water interruption schedule in Metro Manila issued by Manila Water.
“Lakas maka 4th world na,” she wrote. “Hay naku ang Pilipinas [nating] mahal ano na nga.”
(Feels quite 4th world. My goodness, our beloved Philippines, what now?)
Fellow actress-comedian Pokwang drove her point home with comical action. She shared a video clip of a television report of a woman complaining about the water shortage. Pokwang recreated the scene in a separate video of her seemingly doing the laundry.
“Kaya lang po hindi sapat ang tubig para sa amin. Ang gusto ko lang po sa NAWASA kahit isa, dalawang oras meron man lang,” the woman said in the report. “Maawa sila sa amin. Ano, magbabahuan yung mga k*pay namin, ganun na lang?”
(However, the water is not enough for us. I just wish for NAWASA to give us water even for one, two hours. Have mercy on us. What, will our vaginas end up stinking, just like that?)
“So pano na nga ha NAWASA?? Pano?????” Pokwang wrote. “Katarungan para sa mga ki***.” (So, what now, NAWASA? How? Justice for vaginas.)
Comedian Ethel Booba, meanwhile, shared a report of Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez backing the China-funded Kaliwa Dam in aiding Manila’s water crisis.
“If this is true & if we really need this dam in the future since business & popular are growing then explain it properly,” called out Ethel via Twitter on March 15.
“People will understand if they foresee a water crisis sa [dadating] na panahon. Di yung bibiglain ngayon hirap kaya maligo lalo na pag Dove ang sabon. Charot!”
(People will understand if they foresee a water crisis in the future. Not when you surprise them. It’s so hard to bathe especially if your soap is Dove. Charot!)
Comedian and talent manager Ogie Diaz also took to his Facebook account on March 14 where he addressed those running for senator in the upcoming May election.
“Sa mga tumatakbong Senador, kung gusto nyong iayos ang buhay ng mahihirap, umpisahan niyo,” said Diaz. “Magparasyon kayo ng tubig.”
(To those running for the Senate, if you want to fix the lives of the poor, then take action. Have water rationed.)
Singer-actor Janno Gibbs, on the other hand, found amusement in the water shortage-related pun that newscaster Arnold Clavio shared to him. In his post, he uploaded a photo of a pail and dipper inside a bathroom.
“Janno iGibbs #walangtubig,” he quipped on Instagram last March 15. “Nagi-iGibbs ng tubig!”
Actress Bianca Gonzalez also took to Twitter last March 13, where she shared to her fans that her husband had to get water from his parents’ house.
In Gonzalez’s picture, a pick-up truck can be seen full of water containers.
“My husband had to get water from his parents house. #paanobato (How do we deal with this?)” she said.
My husband had to get water from his parents house. 😫 #paanobato pic.twitter.com/vuJg7yhayQ
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) March 13, 2019
Meanwhile, CEO of Manila Water Company, Inc. Ferdinand Dela Cruz has since apologized for the water shortage during the House of Representatives’ Metro Manila development committee discussion today, March 18.
“Alam ko po ang hirap na dinaranas ng inyong constituents may kaya man po o mahirap,” he said. “Noon pong nagsimulang mag-serbsiyo ang Manila Water ipinangako namin na hindi na kayo magpipila-balde at maghihintay ng nagrarasyon ng tubig ngunit nung nakaraang linggo binigo ko kayo.”
(I know the hardship the people are experiencing, whether they be privileged or poor. When we were still starting with our services, Manila Water promised the people that they would no longer fall in line with pails and wait for water rations, but in the past couple of weeks, I failed you).
Dela Cruz further said that the water supply deficit would last until before the end of the dry season. He also added that they are implementing a contingency plan to address the shortage due to the low water level at La Mesa dam. JB
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